Member Of The CBL/BFL Pleads Guilty To Violent Assault

CONTACT: Barbara Burns
PHONE: (716) 843-5817
FAX #: (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today Kareem Pryor, 30, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and faces a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul C. Parisi, who is handling the case, stated that the defendant was a member of the CBL/BFL Gang, which stands for, among other things, “Cash Been Long” and “Brothers for Life.” The gang, which was involved in the illegal possession and distribution of narcotics, was formed around 2009 and operated primarily in the City of Buffalo at the Towne Gardens Housing Complex. The Towne Gardens served as a central hub for the gang with many members living within the housing complex, and many housing units used to store firearms and narcotics. Parking lots and business fronts adjacent to the Towne Gardens were utilized by members of the gang to distribute street level quantities of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and other drugs. The gang used violence, including murder and attempted murder, threats, and intimidation to defend their territory against rivals and anyone deemed to be a threat to the gang.

As part of his plea, defendant Pryor admitted that on June 19, 2019, he met up with Victim 1 on Genesee Street in Cheektowaga, while a co-defendant waited down the street. The co-defendant accused Victim 1 of killing a CBL/BFL member. The defendant and co-defendant then both began punching Victim 1 and stomping Victim 1’s upper body and head onto the pavement. Pryor and the co-defendant then ran away. As a result of the assault by Pryor and his codefendant, Victim 1 was treated at a hospital for a fractured shoulder bone and concussion.  As part of his plea, Pryor also admitted that on September 12, 2019, he possessed over 20 grams of methamphetamine pills in his apartment with the intent to distribute them.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Stephen Belongia; the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Byron Lockwood; the New York State Police, under the direction of Major James Hall; the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, under the direction of Sheriff Timothy Howard; the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Michael Sliwinski; Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kelly; the Drug Enforcement Administration, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Ray Donovan, New York Field Division; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division; the Lackawanna Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Mark Packard; and the Erie Crime Analysis Center. Additional assistance was provided by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, under the direction of District Attorney John Flynn.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 11, 2020, before Judge Vilardo. 

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